Southern California -- this just in

New series of powerful storms to bring four more days of rain, snow to California

March 23, 2011 | 6:59
am

A series of new storms is expected to bring wet and potentially hazardous conditions to Southern California for the next four days, with the snow level dropping to 3,500 feet.

The new storms come as California is recovering from record rains earlier this week.

All roads leading into Yosemite National Park are temporarily closed due to snow, ice, mudslides, fallen trees and downed power lines, according to Outposts, The Times' outdoors blog. The storm that moved through dumped more than 3 1/2 feet of snow during a 24-hour period in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Crane Flat, and approximately nine inches in El Portal.

Meanwhile, officials were cleaning up new mudslides in Malibu overnight.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday night issued a snow warning, saying that moderate to locally heavy snowfalls were likely to hit Southern California mountains.

By Wednesday night, snow levels are expected to drop to about 3,500 feet, the Weather Service said. The most significant snowfalls will be Wednesday afternoon, with some areas receiving from 4 to 12 inches of new snow.

"As a result," the agency said, "Interstate 5 near the Grapevine will likely be impacted by accumulating snow."

Another storm is expected to bring snow and gusty winds to area mountains beginning Thursday afternoon, according to the Weather Service.